Friday, April 29, 2016

Take Bernie Sanders's advice and THINK BIG , Patrick QUINN of SEIU1199

Labor leader Patrick Quinn interviewed on NPR
    As a democratic socialist I would respect any strike authorized by the SEIU1199. One way to strengthen unions and unionism in this country is to encourage more- a lot more- internal democracy.

   When a union boss says he loves and supports Hillary Clinton -and offers only big chill " praise " for Bernie Sanders- has he talked it all over with the rank and file organized workers ? I recall George Nee way back in the early 8os .

   I was an 1199 member ( hospital workers, Bannister House, R.I. ) To be sure , it was imperative for the workers at Bannister House to have union representation. In his younger days George Nee was quite the activist idealist ( with the Caesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers, I recall ) .

   The idealists -alas- evolve into complacent bureaucrats. Union bosses are too loyal to the political establishment of the Democratic Party. There must be an organized labor cause with more moral grandeur than a 15 dollar per hour minimum wage . THAT is no ticket to the middle class.

   Take Bernie Sanders' advice, Patrick Quinn, and THINK BIG. Why should we not have the equivalent of the British Labor Party in the United States ?

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